A potentially volatile situation was averted last week in the Western Region, thanks to the timely intervention of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah who resolved the situation.
The incident involved a clash between the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce and an illegal taskforce that has been masquerading as the government’s original taskforce.
The illegal task force, reportedly formed by self-centered influential individuals, has been threatening the efforts of the government to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the country.
This illegal group has been spotted at various mining sites, including Prestea, where they seized and burned 60 excavators without any mandate to do so.
A similar situation has been reported at some mining sites in the Ashanti Region where several excavators have been burnt.
In some instances, too this illegal task force portraying themselves as members of the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce extort money from licensed miners after threatening them.
The National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce was set up by the government to tackle the menace of illegal mining, but its efforts are being undermined by the activities of this parallel task force.
The government’s task force is working to regulate the mining industry and ensure that mining activities are carried out responsibly and sustainably.
Affected miners have expressed their disappointment and frustration over the approach of the illegal task force, which is causing more harm than good.
The miners believe that the government needs to take immediate action to prevent the operations of this illegal group, which is damaging their businesses and undermining the government’s efforts.
The sector minister and President John Dramani Mahama are reportedly unaware of the activities of this task force, which is operating under the radar.
This lack of awareness raises concerns about the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to regulate the mining industry.
The legitimate small-scale mining companies that have been affected by the activities of the illegal task force are calling on the government to intervene and protect their interests.
They argue that the actions of this illegal group are not only damaging to their businesses but also undermining the government’s efforts to regulate the mining industry.
The activities of the illegal task force have also raised concerns about the safety and security of miners and their equipment. The burning of machines and seizure of property are not only causing financial losses but also putting lives at risk.
Within a space of one week, the country has witnessed two separate press conferences by the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana and the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, expressing their displeasure over the operations of the parallel anti-illegal taskforce.
The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners believes that if the unlawful approach of the illegal task force continues, the Goldbold initiative launched by the government will be affected drastically. The association is worried that the activities of the illegal group will undermine the government’s efforts to promote responsible mining practices.
The National President of the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Mr. Kwadwo Peprah, expressed his worries about the approach of the task force, mistakenly accusing the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce of the unlawful activities of the unauthorized group. He questioned the actions of the task force and called for government intervention.
The government has been urged to take immediate action to disband the rogue task force and ensure that the legitimate mining industry is protected. The affected miners are calling on the government to take decisive action to address the situation and prevent further chaos.
“The activities of the illegal task force are having a significant impact on the mining industry, causing financial losses and undermining the government’s efforts to regulate the sector. The government needs to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that the mining industry operates in a safe and responsible manner” one industry player has said.
The affected miners are calling on the government to take immediate action to address the situation and prevent further chaos. They believe that the government needs to take decisive action to disband this illegal task force and protect the interests of legitimate miners.
